If you get toxoplasmosis for the first time when you’re pregnant, or up to three months before you conceive, there’s a risk that the infection can pass to and damage your unborn baby (mother-to-child transmission) or cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

If you get toxoplasmosis for the first time while you're pregnant, or a few weeks before you conceive, there's a small risk the infection could cause:

What to do if you're concerned

Pregnant women aren't routinely screened for toxoplasmosis in the UK, but you can ask your midwife or doctor for a blood test to check for the infection.

If this detects a recent infection, further tests may be carried out to check if your baby is affected and treatment may be given to reduce the risk of complications. Read more about diagnosing toxoplasmosis and treating toxoplasmosis.